Our Strategies
LAW ENFORCEMENT
METHAMPHETAMINE LABS AND MARIJUANA GROWS
The following indicators show that there is an increasing Methamphetamine epidemic in Clackamas county and surrounding counties:Clackamas County and surrounding counties have a mix of urban and rural geographic areas, with a high concentration of Meth labs being seized in the surrounding counties, of which the designated area in one. Oregon is fifth in the nation. Clackamas County is one of the largest counties in the State and is a designated county of the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HWHIDTA).
Clackamas County is adjacent to Washington and Multnomah county first and second in the state for the number of Meth lab seizures. The Weed & Seed site is located 50miles east. Meth lab and production activities are migrating East to Clackamas County establishing a need for a Weed & Seed site in Clackamas County.
The proliferation of the simpler Nazi method of Methamphetamine Manufacturing has been a significant factor in the increase of seized laboratories and increased use in Clackamas and surrounding counties. The Nazi method is the home production prone to proliferation in rural areas.
Clackamas County has experienced a steady increase in Meth laboratory seizures over the past several years and continues to find it difficult to locate and identify these locations because of only have a small 4 man narcotics department.
Clackamas County Sheriff s Office reports an increase in Methamphetmine arrests, account for approximately 85% of all drug-related arrests in Clackamas County.
Clackamas County District Attorney s office notes that 75% to 80% of all their cases are driven by Methamphetamine.
Clackamas County Sheriff s office reports 1,748.6 grams of Methamphetamine were seized in 2002, amounting to $172,155 this year-these were ephedrine labs.
The other issues around Methamphetamine lab production is that it is not only destructive to the user and to the community, but to the environment as well. Many residents living next to illegal Meth labs have observed the drug dealers dumping and burning their toxic chemicals. Many of these chemicals have been tossed into our local rivers to get rid of their evidence. Combustible cans are tossed into burn piles at lab sites, releasing dangerous chemicals into the air.
Along with the fact that children are often found at labs sites around dangerous chemicals, often found in the refrigerators next to food products. The community has also identified detected and undetected marijuana grows as a serious unmet need in their community. As with the Meth labs, marijuana grows also go undetected as well because of limited policing services and an apathetic uneducated community.
RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
In reviewing our county statistics, there were over 1419 domestic violence cases reported in Clackamas County and over 72 of those cases were reported in the Weed & Seed area. Rural areas are far more likely to have increased incidences of domestic violence and have a greater ability to have such crimes remain hidden. It is estimated that only 10%-30% of all DV incidents come to the attention of the Criminal Justice system. Rural areas like the designated neighborhood have few, if any community resources to address domestic violence and the inevitable impact on children and families. It is estimated that over 1.5 million women and 10 million children are impacted annually by domestic violence (Surgeon General & Center for Disease Control). Statistics also reveal according to Clackamas County Community Corrections Department that 90% of the County cases were driven by illegal drugs. There are no domestic violence shelters in the Weed & Seed area. The community often finds itself limited in knowing where to take a woman and her children when found in domestic violence settings.INJURIES TO DEPUTIES AND FIREFIGHTERS AS A RESULT OF METH LABS
Budgets are limited for the type of training that is required for county deputies and fire department personnel to maintain their safety when approaching dangers methamphetamine labs.DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Highway 26 is known as blood alley for the number of fatalities related to driving while intoxicated. Each year statistics increase for the number arrested for driving while under the influence. Oregon State Police last year alone made 114 DUII arrests, 12 driving while suspended, and 60 driving while under the influence while in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.COMMUNITY POLICING
LACK OF COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICERS
The Weed & Seed Steering committee have identified that their community has many risk factors that help breed illegal drugs. These risk factors include such things as: minimal policing services and communication tools to alert the community of weekly dangers in the community structure.YOUTH CRIMES
The target area continues to get consistent reports from local businesses and neighbors who have caught teens running through the community vandalizing businesses and local houses. Often these crimes go unreported because when law enforcement is called, sometimes they are able to respond to the area and sometimes they are not. The crime stats provided by Clackamas County Juvenile Department of 2919 cases reported in the year 2001 leading to over 5 226 crimes in our county, of which 1169 have been property crimes, 176 sex crimes, 400 illegal drugs, and 652 alcohol cases.PREVENTION
YOUTH FIRST TIME AND REPEAT DRUG USERS
Due to limited funding for schools in the State of Oregon, most of the programs within the school system have been deleted due to funding issues. Through the Mt. Hood Coalition Against Drug Crime, many programs are now being revived because of the collaboration between the Oregon Trail School District and the coalition.Most recently the Mt. Hood Coalition Against Drug Crime in collaboration with the Oregon Trail School District have been able to access the $100,000 Drug Free Communities grant which will help to educate the youth around illegal drugs. 1600 high school students and over 2556 elementary and middle school students about illegal drugs, 564 of the 2556 are located in our local area grade school and 230 of our local high school attend the high school located 30 minutes away. Within the whole school district 34% of K-5 students (608), 27% of 6-8 students (275), and 15% of 9-12 students (203) qualify for free/reduced lunch. Statistics also show that over 20.8% of our 9th graders, over 23.3% of our 10th graders, 22% of our 11th graders, and 21.5% of our 12th graders have used marijuana or hashish in the past 30 days. These are alarming figures that we attribute to the lack of awareness and education among our youth.
TREATMENT
RECIDIVISM RATE AMONG DRUG USERS
There are no treatment centers or counseling centers in the Weed & Seed area. The community offers three alcoholic s anonymous meetings and one narcotic s anonymous meeting for those struggling with their addictions. This we believe is part of the problem as to why the repeat offender rate continues to grow, because they leave to get well, then come back to a drug infested community where treatment is not available.INTERVENTION
REPEAT DRUG OFFENDERS
Through Clackamas County Sheriff s Department statistics and observation of various individuals in our community, we have noticed a large number of repeat offenders, 1256 in 2001 for the County. Statistics were not broken out for the Weed & Seed area, but we can guess that there are a large number, because we see the same people in our community going back to jail many times over for various issues from harassment, drugs, criminal mischief, vandalism, DUII, DWS and others and this then is seen as a serious unmet need in our community.STUDENT DROP OUT RATE
The drop out/expulsion rate at Sandy High School is almost double the district average. This indicates that more Sandy High students have behavioral problems, hence an increased rate of expulsion.NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUB STANDARD HOUSING
The Weed & Seed steering committee have identified a great number of houses both owned and rented that have gone unattended and are causing neighboring homes in the area to be devalued. The lack of county budget, enforcement personnel, the lack of ordinances that control a higher standard of living, absentee landlords, and illegal meth labs are the contributing factors to this problem.BUSINESSES THAT ALLOW OVER SERVING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Weed & Seed Steering Committee will be working with the Oregon Liquor Control to identify local businesses who are over serving alcohol and allowing drug trafficking to take place inside their place of business. The Weed & Seed program will help focus attention on these facilities by collaborating with OLCC, Clackamas County Sheriff s Office, and checking local owners serving permits.Clackamas County Community Corrections is currently supervising 35 cases in our designated area of which 14 of those cases are directly related to driving while under the influence.
The number of known DUII s arrested made in 2001 by Oregon State Police on our highway was 75 in the year 2000, and 124 in the year 2001. Traffic crashes related to DUII were 7 in the year 2000, and 10 in the year 2001. Related to DWS-there were 3 is 2000, and 4 in 2001.
SAFE HAVEN/COMMUNITY CENTER COMPONENT
Safe Haven/Community center and youth activity expansion and program development will be at the top of the list for the Mt. Hood Coalition Against Drug Crime Weed & Seed Steering Committee. Statistics have shown us that kids need a place to go after school, during summers and on weekends.
P. O. Box 1351, Welches, Oregon 97067
Coalition Liaison: Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 503-723-4820
Web Site: www.hadit.org
E-Mail: Stop-Drugs-NOW@hadit.org